High 
Water 

MarKif 




A. Harold F arret I 



PREFACE 



The information as given in this book- 
let is as accurate as it can be given com- 
piled from notes furnished by the differ- 
ent Weather Bureaus and from river- 
men. 

Persons wishing extra copies can pro- 
cure same from the compiler. 







i. ■ 




LIBRARY of CONQResS 
fwo Copies Heceivea 

FEB 13 1905 

/I Oopyngnt tntry 
iuss ^ XXc Hoi 
COPY B. 




A 


COPYRIGHT 1905 

, HAROLD FARREI 

PAKKERSBURG, W. VA 

••• : 

• • 

• •• 
••• 


.L 




ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE OYO. 



THE OHIO RIVER 



The Ohio derives its name from the 
Seneca Indians. O-hee-yuh. It means 
''Beautiful river " 

Celeron called it the '*Oyo." 

The French called it ''La Belle 
Heviere. ' ' 

It was discovered by La Salle in 1680. 

It is formed by the confluence of the 
Allegheny and Monongehela rivers, at 
Pittsburg, Pa. 

Its entire length is 987 miles. 

With its tributaries it drains an area 
of 200.000 square miles. 



With its tributaries it is navagable for 
5000 miles. 

The current averages 3 miles an hour. 

The average descent is 5 inches to the 
mile. 

The mean height is 50 feet. 

The Indians lived along the Ohio as 
far back as 1650. 

Celeron, the explorer buried leaden 
plates along the "Oyo" at Harts Rock, 
Wheeling, Marietta, Pt. Pleasant, and at 
the mouth of the Miami in 1749. 

The first Fort built on the Ohio v/as at 
Pittsburg and called Fort Duquesne in 
1753. 

After the treaty of 1764 the Ohio be- 
came the boundary line between the 
Whites and the Reds. 

The first settlement on the Ohio was 
at Wheeling in 1768-9. 

The first boats used w^ere called 
Kentucky boats, flats, barges and keels. 
United States mail was transported be- 
tween Pittsburg and Cincinnati in a canoe 
in 1794. 

In 1794 the first packet line was es- 
tablished. It consisted of 4 keel boats of 
20 tons each on the following schedule : 
The following unique poster is copied in 
it's original form from "History of Pan 
Handle, West Virginia" Jos. A. Caldwell, 
Wheeling, W. Va. 

* 'Two boats for the present will start 



from Cincinnati to Pittsburg and return to 
Cincinnati in the following manner, viz : 
First boat will leave Cincinnati this 
morning at eight o'clock, and return to 
Cincinnati so as to be ready to sail again 
in four wrecks from this date. Second 
boat will leave Cincinnati on Saturday, 
the 30th inst., and return as above. And 
so regularly, each boat performing the 
voyage to and from Cincinnati to Pitts- 
burg once in every four weeks. The 
proprietors of tliese boats have naturally 
considered the manv inconveniences and 
dangers incident to the common method 
heretofore adopted of nava gating the 
Ohio, and being influenced by a love of 
philanthropy and a desire of being ser- 
viceable to the public, has taken great 
pains to render the accommodation on 
board the boats as agreeable and conven- 
ient as they possibly could be made. No 
danger may be apprehended from the 
enemy, and every person on board will 
be under cover made proof to rifle ball, 
and convenient port holes for firing out. 
Each of the boats is armed with six 
pieces, carrying a pound ball ; also a good 
number of muskets, and amply supplied 
with ammunition, strongly manned with 
choice men, and the master of approved 
knowledge. A seperate cabin from that 
designed for the men is partitioned off in 
each boat for accommodating the ladies 
on their passage. Conveniences are con- 
structed on board each boat so as to ren- 
der landing unnecessary, as it might at 
times be attended with dangers. Rules 
and regulations for maintaining order on 



board and for the good management of 
the boats, and tables accurately calculated 
for the rates of freightage, for passengers 
and carriage of letters, to and from Cin- 
cinnati to Pittsburg : also a table of the 
exact time of the arrival and departure 
to and from the different i3laces on the 
Ohio between Cincinnati and Pittsburg, 
may be seen on board each boat and at 
the printing office in Cincinnati. Pas- 
sengers will be supplied with provisions 
and liquors of all kinds, of the first 
quality, at the most reasonable rates pos- 
sible. Persons desirous of working their 
passage will be admitted on finding 
themselves, subject, however, to the 
same order and directions from the 
master of the boat as the rest of the 
working hands of the boats crew. An 
office of insurance will be kept at Cin- 
cinnati, Limestone and Pittsburg, where 
persons desirous of having their prox^erty 
insured may apply. The rates of insur- 
ance will be moderate. " 

In 1801 the first sea-going vessels ; The 
Amity, of 120 tons and the Pitts- 
burg, of 250 tons were built in Pittsburg. 

In 1802 the Nanina, 250 tons, in 1803 
the Louisana 300 tons and in 1804 the 
Western Trader, 400 tons. These vessels 
plied between Pittsburg and The West 
Indies and France. 

The first steamboat, the New Orleans 
was built in 1811 and cost over $40,000. 
The Comet in 1813 and the Enterxorize in 
1814. 



The Enterprize took part in the battle 
of New Orleans in 1815, 

The Ohio separates the states of Ohio, 
West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and 
Illinois. The Ohio was lower in 1894 
than ever known. It could be waded at 
almost any point. It was 1ft. 1 at Ports- 
mouth, O. 

There are many large Islands in the 
Ohio notably- Wheeling Island, Capitina, 
Grai3e Island, Eureka, Neals, Blenner- 
hassett and Coney Island. Wheeling Is- 
land is thickly settled and is the prettiest 
residence section of Wheeling. 




BLENNERHASSETT ISLAND 

Blennerhassett Island, one mile below 
Parkersburg is one of the most noted 
Islands along the river. Herman Blenner- 
hassett owned it and had a handsome 
home there. Aaron Burr, the traitor 



ruined Blennerhassett as spoken of in 
history. 

The "Great Pumpkin Flood" occurred 
in 1818. It carried away corn shocks, 
corn cribs and hay stacks. The stream 
was covered with pumpkins which gave 
it its name. 

The flood of 1884: was the most dis- 
astrous in history. Heavy ice went out 
on the crest. This ice did untold dam- 
age. Many hves and billions of dollars 
worth of property were lost. Much suf- 
fering ensued on account of the extreme 
cold weather. 

All written records of the Upper Ohio 
Valley do not chronicle two such floods 
as that in 1904 within one month of each 
other. Heavy rains at headwaters 
threatened a third high water before the 
second flood had receded. The waters 
receded very slowly on this account. 
The flood in January carried more ice 
down the river than was ever known be- 
fore. The entire river was a floating, 
grinding, seething mass of ice. The 
grinding noise could be heard several 
blocks awa^^ from the river. Large and 
numerous gorges had formed in all the 
upper rivers and when they broke every- 
thing before it was swept away. It took 
just six weeks for this ice to float out. 



RIVER DISTANCES, 



From Pittsburg to 

MILES. 

Beaver, Pa 27 

Steuben ville, O 73 

Wheeling, W. Va 96 

New Martinsville, W. Va 134 

Marietta, 178 

Parkersburg, W. Va 188 

Pomeroy, O 253 

Pt. Pleasant, W. Va 266 

Huntington, W. Va 309 

Portsmouth, 356 

Maysville, Ky 405 

Cincinnati, 461 

Louisville, Ky 593 

Evansville, Ind 793 

Cairo, Ills 987 

Memphis, Term 1221 

Vieksburg, Miss 1613 

New Orleans, La 2016 

St. Louis, Mo 1158 




PITTSBURG. PA. 



DANGER LINE 22 FT. 



STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


32 . 




1810 . . 


Nov. . . 


31.3. .. 


1893 .. 


Feb. .. 


35 . 




1832 .. 


Feb. . . 


24 ... 


1895 .. 


Jan. . . 


35 . 




1852 . . 


Apr. . 


25.8-.. 


1898 . . 


Mch. . . 


31.9. 




1860 . . 


Apr. . . 


27.7... 


1900 . . 


Nov. . . 


26.7. 




1861 . . 


Sept . . 


28 ... 


1901 . . 


Apr. . . 


30 . 




1862 . . 


Apr. . . 


32.4... 


1902 . . 


Mch.. 


27,9. 




1865 . . 


Mch. . 


28.9. .. 


1903 . . 


Mch. . . 


31.4. 




1873 . . 


Dec. .. 


30 ... 


1904 . . 


Jan. . . 


^5 7 




1874 . . 

1875 .. 
1881 . . 
l881 . . 


Jan. . . 








22.4. 


Dec. . 








24.6. 


Feb. . . 








23.4. 


June . . 








^7 1 




1883 . . 


Feb. . . 








94 8 




l884 . . 

1890 . . 

1891 . . 


Feb. .. 


• 






33.3 




Mch. . . 








24.3. 




Feb. . . 













WHEELING, W VA, 

DANGER LINE 36 FT. 




STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


STAGK 


YEAR 


MONTH 


48 . 
48.1. 
48 . 

43 . 
44.2. 
37 . 
41 . 
38.8. 
38.8. 
34.9. 
38.8. 
40.9. 
39.7. 
52.6. 
33 . 

44 6. 




1810 . . 
1832 . . 

1852 .. 

1860 . . 

1861 .. 

1862 . . 
1865 . . 

1873 . . 

1874 . . 

1875 . . 
1881 . . 
1881 . . 

1883 . . 

1884 . . 

1890 . . 

1891 . . 


Nov. . . 
Feb. . . 
Apr. . . 
Apr. . . 
Sept. . . 
Apr. . . 
Mch.. . 
Dec. . . 
Jan. . . 
Dec. .. 


32 ... 

30 . 
44.6... 
34.7... 
41.3. .. 
43.3... 
40.2... 
44.2.. . 
39.3... 


1893 . . 
1895 . . 
1898 .. 

1900 . . 

1901 . . 

1902 .. 

1903 . . 

1904 . . 
1904 ., 


Feb. . . 
Jan. . . 
Mch. . 
Nov. . . 
Apr. . . 
Mch. . . 
Mch. . . 
Jan. . . 
Mch. . . 


Feb. . . 








June . . 








Feb. . 








Feb. . . 








Mch. . . 








Feb. . . 


























MARIE iTA OHIO. 

DANGER LINE 35 FT, 




STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


48.8.. . 
40.6. .. 
43.3.. . 

44 .. . 

45 .. . 
36.3. .. 
38 ... 
38.2... 
39.3. .. 
43.8... 
52.9... 
45.5... 
36.6 .. 
48 ... 
41 ... 


1832 . . 

1847 . . 
1852 . . 

1860 . . 

1861 .. 

1862 .. 

1873 . . 

1874 . . 
1881 . . 

1883 . . 

1884 . . 
1891 .. 
1895 . . 
1898 . . 
1901 . . 


Feb. . . 
Feb. . . 
Apr, . . 
Apr. . . 
Sept... 


39.3.. . 
38.7.. . 
41.7. . 

38.7... 


1902. . . 

1903 . . 

1904 . . 
1904 . . 


Mch- . . 
Mch... 
Jan. . . 
Mch. . . 


Apr. . . 








Dec. . . 








Jan. . . 








June . . 








Feb. . 








Feb. . . 








Feb. . . 








Jan. . . 








Mch. . . 








Apr. . . 




























PARKERSBURG, W. VA. 



DANGER LINE 36 FT. 



STAGE YE\R MONTH STAGE YEAR MONTH 



49.5. 

44.7. 
44 . 
44 . 
44.7. 
37 . 
38.7. 
35.2. 
40 . 
34 . 
45.2. 
53.9. 
44.6. 
48.3. 
43.9. 



1832 . 
1840 . 

18^7 . 
1852 . 
1860 . 
1862 . 
4873 . 
1875 . 
1881 . 
1881 . 

1883 . 

1884 . 
1891 . 
1898 . 
1901 . 



Feb. .. 
Spring 
Dec. .. 
Apr. . 
Apr. . . 
Apr . . . 
Dec . . 
Dec. . . 
Feb. . . 
June . . 
Feb. . . 
Feb. . . 
Feb. .. 
Mch. . . 
Apr . . . 



40 . .. 
39.9. .. 
42.4. . 
39.2i*3 



.3.TBt;i 

. 'iqA 



1902 

1903 . . 

1904 .^ 
19a*^v 

. . 088II 
. bQ8l! 
.\ IQ8Ii 
. - b^L\ 
. , 8981' 
, 10^ f! 

soet 
ioei 



Mch. 
Mch. 
Jan. 
Mch. 




POMEROY^jOHIO.Tt 

DANGER LINE 50 FT, 



STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


STAGE 


YEAK 


MONTH 


5:^ ... 


1875 .. 


Aug. . . 






^ . 


52.4. . 


1881 . . 


Feb. . . 




. . .' . .' • 


. . . ', <•'- .-. . 


58 ... 


1883 . . 


Feb. . . 






/ . I"» .< >> • 


64.11.. 


1884 . . 


Feb. . . 




. . i . •" ..' . . 


. . ; .^.:. 


49 ... 


1886 .. 


Feb. . . 




. . .■.-»■ *~ , . 


• •~<.*I4^ 


53.6.. 


1890 . . 


Mar. . . 






"I'M 


55.7... 


1891 .: 


Mar. . . 


. . . , u. 


. . *; w; ,^ .■;. , 


••?i.I-C-' 


50 


1894 . . 


Jan. . . 


... .■:m'A. 


-.• IM^'^ 




58.6.. . 


1898 . . 


Mar. . . 


. ..:::.J-iC. 


• ' -An^i' 


,. .8.n^ 


57.5.. . 


1901 .. 


Apr. . . 




v.^^^it, 


.•.. '^%<. 


52.7... 


J902 .. 


Mar. . . 


. . ..... 


• •imir 


"n.M- 


50.8. .. 


1903 . : 


Mar. . 






• •if.M 


50.3... 
=r 


1904 ., 


Jan. . . 




' • • vv- 




.... ...,* 


. . . V. .» 













^■H 


HMII 


^hBI 


' ■ i 



PT/ PLEAS ANT/ W, VA. 



DANGER LINE 39 FT, 

STAGE YEAR MONTH STAGE YEAR MONTH 1 



60 




1884 .. 
1893 . . 

1893 .. 

1894 . . 

1896 . . 

1897 .. 

1898 . . 

1901 . 

1902 . . 

1903 .. 

1904 . 


Feb 








45.5 
40.3 
44 5 




Feb. . . 
May . 
Jan 






.... ... 


41 2 


Apr. . . 








52.3 

51.2 

53 

46.3 

45 


Feb. . 
Mar. . . 
Apr . . 
Mch . : 
Mch . . 






'.'.jisi. 


42.5 


Jan. . . 





































































HUNTINGTON, W. VA. 



DANGER LINE 50 FT- 5 



STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


58 


1832 . . 
1847 .. 

1 883 . . 

1884 . . 
1901 . . 
190-i . 
1903 .. 
1903 . . 
1903 . . 

IQOA 


Feb. . . 








58 




Dec. 
Feb . 








5ft. 7. 
64 . 

"57 4 








Feb 








Apr . . 
Mch... 

Feb. 








49.5. 
46.4. 

48 3 




.... ; y^ 




Mch 








41 7 


Apr 








43 7 


Jan 




' ' ' \ 








i...:;vJ 

1 


:. . .'^.. . 


i 




1 








i 








1 




.. ...V.;. . .. 









^^ 



'^Itf^^l^- 




PORTSMOUTH OHIO 



BANGER UNE 



STAGE YEAE MONTH STAGE YEAR MONTH 



61.8 


. . 1832 . . 


Feb . . 


40.6.: 


1898 


Aug .. 


61.2 


. 1847 .. 


Dec .. 


56.1,. 


1899 . . 


Mch .. 


57 . 


. . 1862 . . 


4pr . . . 


58.5.. 


1901 




Apr. . 


55.6 


. . 1875 . . 


Aug . . 


50.4.. 


902 




Mch .. 


60.6 


. . 1883 . . 


Feb .. 


51.3.. 


1903 




Mch .. 


66.3 


. . 1884 . . 


Feb .. 


44.5.. 


1904 




Jan . . 


52.1 


. . 1886 . . 


Apr. . . 


^ ^ 












53.8 


. . 1887 . . 


Feb . . 














51.9 


.. 1890 .. 


Feb .. 














56 


. . 1890 . . 


Mch . 














55.4 


. . 1891 . 


Feb 














41.8 


. . 1892 . . 


Apr. 




» , . 










53.8 


.. 1893 .. 


Feb 














59 


..189r .. 


Feb . 














57.6 


. . 1898 . . 


Mch . 















f ■ 










'«^ 


^^^_^^ 


Ngll^^.^t 




?>^^VJ^>"'!-'^^ ^hHH 


n 


H 




uy 


p" 


-i» 


^ '^^r 


-^^^^^q 


^^^ 


iN 



jVIAYSVILLE,KY. 



DANGER LINE 



STAGE YEAR MONTH STAGE YEAR MONTH 



• ... • . . . .... .. ,,. 'k> 

..'. ...:.■:%;. ..a:%'^ 



SliMiriiiMiaiilMlii 






CINGINNATI, OHIO, 



DANGER LINE 50 FT, 



STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


64.3... 


183-^ . . 


Feb .. 


71.1 .. 


1884 . . 


Feb .. 


63,7... 


1847 . . 


Dec . . 


55.9 . 


1886 . . 


Apr . . . 


55.5... 


1859 .. 


Feb .. 


56.3 .. 


1887 . . 


Feb .. 


57.4... 


L862 . . 


Jan . . 


59 .. . 


1890 . . 


Mch . . 


56.3... 


1865 .. 


Mch .. 


57.4 . . 


1891 . . 


Feb .. 


55.8... 


1867 . . 


Mch .. 


48.4 .. 


1895 .. 


Jan . . 


55.3. .. 


1870 . . 


Jan . . 


47.8 .. 


1896 . . 


Apr . . . 


47.11.. 


1874 .. 


Jan . . 


61.2 .. 


1897 .. 


Feb .. 


55.5. .. 


1875 .. 


Aug . 


52.4 . . 


1898 . . 


Jan . . 


51.9. . 


1876 .. 


Jan . . 


59.7 .. 


1901 .. 


Apr . . . 


53.9 .. 


1877 . . 


Jan . . 


50.9 . . 


1902 .. 


Mch .. 


53.2 .. 


1880 . . 


Feb .. 


53-2 .. 


1903 .. 


Mch .. 


50.7 . 


1881 . . 


Feb .. 


43.6 .. 


1904 . . 


Jan . . 


58.7 .. 


1882 . . 


Feb .. 


-. . : •■•■••■.-; 






66.4 .. 


1883 . . 


Feb . . 












1 








LOUISVILLE, KY. 



DANGER LINE 



STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


STAGE 


YEAR 


MONTH 


25. . . . 


1674 . . 


Jan ..i 


6'^.H. .. 


1899 .. 


Mar . . 


29.6 


1875 . . 


Aug . .1^ 


33.2. .. 


1901 .. 


Apr . . . 


31 ... 


1 876 : . 


Jan . .! 


24.8. . . 


1902 .. 


Mar . . 


30 . . 


1877 .. 


Jan , . 1 


28 5... 


1903 . . 


M^ .i. 


30 r> .. 


\8bQ :. 


Feb .. 


21 . . . 


1904. 


Aj^o^. 


37.4 .. 


1882-.-; 


Feb ..! 






... ^.^A 


44.4 :. 


!883::./: 


Feb ..I 










46.7 .. 


1884:.: 


Feb . . 


..... 






. lL:yk. 


32 6 .. 


1887 .>-. 


Feb.... 








...42..€^. 


35 5 .. 


1890 .. 


Mar .. 








...-^,.r^ 


32 2 .. 


1891^. r 


Feb .. 






'-. .'■:'. 


... . V-" . G*}. 


28.8 . . 


1893 ... 


Feb:.. 


. . . '. 






. .2.J.C. 


35.4 .. 


1807 .. 


Feb ,. : 






- 


-,.^: oa 


36.3 .. 


1898 . . 


Mar . . 














EVANSVILLE, IND, 

DANGER LINE 




STAGE YEAR MONTH STAGE YEAR MONTH | 


47 ... 
47.3. .. 


1883 . . 

1884 . . 


Feb .. 








Feb .. 



























































































































































































- --^— r^#!*^«*'^«f'i^^- 




|^pi*»^*Sj 



CAIRO, ILL. 



DANGER LINE 45 ^T, 



STAGE YEAR MONTH STAGE YEAR 310NT H 



42.6 

47.3 

41k2 

46.4 

44.6 

45.8 

51.8 

52.2 

51.8 

51 

48.6 

45.3 

48.8 

46.2 

48.3 





I'v73 . . 


Feb . . 


49.3. 


.. 1893 ..May .. 




1874 . . 


Apr. . . 


51.7. 


. . 1897 . . Mch . . 


. 


1875 .. 


Aii^ . . 


49.8. 


. . 1898 . . Apr . . 




1876 . . 


A]3r. . . 


46.2. 


. . 1899 . . Mch . . 




1880 . . 


Mh . 


43.2. 


. . 1901 . . May . . 




1881.. 


Apr. . . 


42.2. 


. . 1902 . . Mch . . 




1882 . . 


Feb .. 


50.6. 


. . 1903 . . Mch . . 




1883 . . 


Feb .. 


29.6. 


. . 1904 . . Jan . . 




1884 . . 


Feb .. 








1886 . . 


Apr . . . 








1887 . . 


Mch .. 








1888 . . 


Apr . . . 








1890 . . 


Mch .. 








1891 .. 


Mch .. 








1892 . . 


Apr.. . 










LOCK NO. 


11 BIG KANAWHA RIVER 


1 


Charleston on the Kanawha 


DANGER LINE 30 FT, 


STAGE YEAR MONTH STAGE YEAR MONTH 


46.11.. 


1861 . 


Sept .. 20.8. 


.. 1899 .. jy 


Lch 20 


36,1... 


1875 . . 


Feb . . 31 . 


. . 1900 . . IS 


\ov . . 


33.4 




1875 . . 


Aug .. 27.6. 


. . 1901 . . A 


.pr 4 . 


35.8 




1877 . . 


Jan .. 36.5. 


. . 1901 . . A 


pr 21 


35.1 




1877 . . 


Nov .. 38.6. 


.. 1901 ..y. 


[ay . . 


41.8 




1878 . . 


Sept .. 31.6. 


. . 1901 . . J 


une. . 


36.8 




1879 . . 


Jan . . 37 . 


. . 1902 . . M 


[oh .. 


39.4 




1886 . . 


Apr 1 . 33 . 


. . 1903 . . M 


[ch .. 


36.3 




1886 .. 


Apr 7 






30.11.. 


1889 . . 


June . . .... 






30.11.. 


1890 . . 


Mch 






29.11.. 


1893 . . 


Feb 






20.2... 


1896 . . 


Jnly 






41.5. .. 


1897 . . 


Feb . . .... 






41.3... 


1899 .. 


Mcli5. ..-.. 











REFLECTIONS. 



There was frost in 1816 in every montli 
during the year. A heavy frost on June 
1st. 1834 did great damage to crops. On 
June 5-1864 frost destroyed all the grain. 

Snow fell to a depth of 3 ft. through- 
out the upper Ohio Valley in 1818 and 
laid over a month before melting. 

The next heavy snow occurred in 1856. 
During this winter the river was frozen 
over solid for eight weeks and sleds and 
teams could cross on the ice. The ther- 
mometer averaged 15 degrees below zero. 
Winter broke on March 22. 

The winter of 1903-4 was a real winter 
as of old. 8now covered the ground 
nearly the entire winter. The weather 
averaging about zero. 

The coldest day ever felt in Parkers- 
burg was in Feb. 1900 when the mer- 
cury dropped to 32 degrees below. 



RAIN FALL. 



The average rainfall at Pittsburg for 
20 years, 1884 to 1904, was 36.7 inches. 
The heaviest rainfall at any one time oc- 
curred on July 20, 1887. The precipita- 
tion being 3.85 inches. 

The average rainfall at Charleston on 
the Kanawha for 16 years from 1885 to 
1900 was 42.67. An average of 2.67 a year. 

At Cincinnati it was 33.85 for 15 years 
up to and including 1903. The heaviest 
rainfall occurred on May 20, 1902 when 
2.37 fell in 2 hours 40 minutes: 2.31 fell 
in 35 minutes during this precipitation. 

There was no rainfall from Aug. 27 to 
December 23 in 1904 at Parkersburg, 
W. Va. This severe drouth caused 
manufacturers to shut down, oil 
development to come to a stand still. 
Railroads had to haul water to keep 
trains moving Farmers sold or butcher- 
ed their cattle. Clarksburg, W. Va., 
was without water several days. Nov. 
1904 was dryest month recorded in 17 
years. 



Pointers For The Traveler, 



A 29 ft. stage at Pittsburg will necces- 
sitate the abandonment of trains on the 
P. & L. E. Ry. between Beaver and 
Braddock, Pa. The same stage in the 
Allegheny stops the running of trains on 
the P. & W. Hy. into Pittsburg. 

40 feet at Wellsburg shuts out the Pan 
Handle between there and Wheeling. 

A 40 ft. stage at Wheeling stops the 
running of trains on the Ohio River 
Division of the B. & O. Ry. between 
Wheeling and Parkersburg and between 
Marietta, O., and Parkersburg on the 
branch and will stop all trains out of 
New Martinsville, W. Va., on the W. Va. 
Short Line. 

A 38 ft. stage at Parkersburg stops 
train movement between Spencer and 
Ravenswood, W. Va., and 40 ft. annuls 
trains between Millwood and Ripley, W. 
Va. 

34 ft. of water at Zanesville Ohio, 
cripples all railroad traffic in that 
vicinity. 

37 ft. at Parkersburg shuts out trains 
from Parkersburg on the Little Kanawha 
Ry. 

When a 45 ft. stage is reached at 
Parkersburg all trains are annulled be- 
tween Parkersburg and Kenova, W. Va. 



A 35 ft. stage at Charleston on the 
Kanawha causes the K. & M. Ry. to 
annul trains and 45ft. at Pt. Pleasant, 
W. Va. , stops all train movement on the 

B. & O. : H. V. : and K. & M. between 
Pomeroy, Ohio, Gallipolis, Ohio, Char- 
leston, Parkersburg and Huntington, 
W. Va. 

61 ft. at Cattlesburg, Ky. , will neces- 
sitate the abandonment of trains on the 

C. & O. Ry. between Huntington and 
Russell Ky., and 66 ft. stops trains be- 
tween Russell and Cincinnati. 

60 ft. at Portsmouth, O., makes it 
necessary for the N. & W. Ry. to abandon 
all trains between Ironton and Ports- 
mouth, Ohio. 



Mean Difference in Stages, 



There is no accurate means of cal- 
culating just what stages will be reached 
at different points along the river. But 
by comparison of figures shown herein 
the following mean difference can be 
figured on with a degree of certainity. 

The average difference between Pitts- 
burg and Wheeling is 12 ft. That is : 
when 30 ft. is reached at Pittsburg the 
crest will be 12 ft. higher, or 42 feet at 
Wheeling. 

Bet. Wheeling and Parkersburg. .1.5 to 2 

Bet. Pksbg. and Pt. Pleasant 2 to 4 

Bet. Pt. Pleasant and Huntg 2.3 



2. 



24. 
2. 



Bet. Huntg. and Portsmouth . . 
Bet. Portsmouth and Maysville 
Bet. Maysville and Cincinnati . 
Bet. Cincinnati and Loui sville . 
Bet. Louisville and Evansville . 

Bet. Evansville and Cairo 5. 

Bet. Charleston and Pt. Pleasant.. 

on the Big Kanawha 15 ft. 

Bet. Zanesville and Marietta, on . . 

the Muskingum 10 ft. 

Bet. Kanawha Falls and Charles- . 

ton, W. Va 7 to 8 

The average time for the crest to reach 
points 100 miles distant is from 36 to 48 
hours. 




DANGER LINES, 



Pittsburg 22 ft. 

Wheeling 36 ft. 

New Martinsville 39 ft. 

Zanesville 20 ft. 

Marietta 35 ft. 

Creston 20 ft. 

Parkersburg 36 ft. 

Pomeroy 50 ft. 

Pt. Pleasant 39 ft. 

Huntington 50 ft. 

Portsmouth 

Maysville 

Cincinnati 50 ft. 

Louisville 

. Evansville 

Cairo 45 ft. 

Charleston on the Kanawha 30 ft. 



FEB 13 13Q3 



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